For eCommerce merchants, the home goods market is exploding. Today’s consumer looks first to check things out online before going to a physical store. This gives sellers a chance to acquire consumers for their brands by offering competitive pricing and the promise of rapid delivery.
When it comes to fulfillment, the home products industry has several problems. Oversized items and delicate materials hamper the delivery of a consistent customer experience. Let’s take a look at some of the distinct fulfillment challenges that home goods companies must face, as well as how to overcome them.
1. Items require extra protection against damage during shipping
When transporting, keep in mind that the protection of your furnishings may be jeopardized. A coffee table, sofa, or photo frame may all be utilized as home décor items, so extra care is required when shipping them. When transporting delicate products, it’s critical to consider their form and resistance.
Solution:
Packages that are tightly sealed will help you keep up with consumer expectations for delivery. Use boxes and filler to ensure that the goods can fit comfortably within the shipping container. To create a cushion from the effects of transportation, use padding, bubble wrap, and other packing materials.
When it comes to selling items on the internet, be sure they’re sturdy enough to survive shipping. If the thing is too delicate to be mailed intact, save yourself the hassle of damaged goods and dissatisfied consumers by conducting your own study on how to properly prepare these things for a safe delivery.
2. Extra planning for the needs of various items
Online selling of housewares necessitates additional preparation for how big and delicate products will be delivered to the consumer. With a wide range of goods accessible through a home goods company, retailers must have a strategy in place for everything from huge to tiny, sturdy to delicate.
Solution:
Large items must be transported by carriers that can handle them. To ensure that they meet the limitations for carriers in terms of maximum weight and length, bulky goods must be precisely measured. UPS and FedEx will accept packages weighing up to 150 pounds with a box length no longer than 9 feet. USPS Retail Ground has a maximum weight of 70 pounds.
LTL and FTL freight services are also offered, with the latter requiring a full truck. You may opt for less bulky shipping by shipping components disassembled, or obtainable in separate boxes. Planning is essential for finding the most effective method to wrap items while also offering cost-effective shipping alternatives to consumers. Working with a 3PL may assist you in providing lower shipping costs and rapid delivery choices.
3. Additional time to create bundles or kits for consumers
A difficulty may arise when attempting to mix a number of things into a single purchase (kitting). Your crew might desire to provide a three-pack of throw pillows or a collection of décor items with the same seasonal theme. Being able to offer these kits is appealing to customers and enables them to buy numerous things in one click.
Solution:
Packaging these things together as a single unit might help reduce fulfillment time. Deliverr, for example, can assist your brand by combining and kitting products under a single SKA. The fulfillment team can ensure that your goods are carefully selected and packaged for delivery when you use an innovative inventory and management technique.
4. Increased fulfillment speed for larger items
Larger items need more time to prepare for shipment. Shoppers expect quick delivery, even for big, heavy things. Furniture, for example, needs specialized equipment and skilled personnel to store in a warehouse safely. To guarantee that products are handled carefully and without damage, the logistics of picking is more difficult and time-consuming.
Solution:
Consider working with a warehouse network to help you localize inventory for faster shipping to its ultimate destination. Make sure your warehouse has up-to-date inventory and order management systems in place to guarantee that items are tracked throughout the facility. Deliverr has mobile barcode readers that may be used throughout the warehouse, speeding up the fulfillment process. When it comes to these larger goods, retailers should have realistic expectations for delivery times. When possible, offer fast delivery by utilizing Deliverr Fast Tags. When using fast shipping badges on product listings, brands in the Home category see a 67 percent boost in sales on average.
It’s crucial to inform consumers about how soon the product should arrive in order to meet their expectations and provide a pleasant shopping experience.
5. Returns are difficult for larger items
Another distinctive issue faced by home goods firms is the ability to provide refunds on big home products. Customers want to know that they have alternatives if an item does not live up to their standards before making a purchase. It’s risky, however it is common. Cart abandonment may occur as a result of unclear return policies. Customers may be hesitant to buy from you if your return policies are not reasonable.
Solution:
The greatest solution to avoid the hassles of large item returns? Examine the items you’re sending out thoroughly to ensure they’re correct and that the product will fulfill your customers’ needs. Additionally, be sure to provide the shopper as much information and details about the product before making the purchase. This allows for fewer unanticipated moments after the package is delivered. A great customer experience may help your company avoid returns.
Provide instructions for returning goods. Give your customers with assistance throughout the purchase process, including returns. Make sure that your customer service staff are familiar with the return policy. You can follow up emails after the delivery to make returns simpler by troubleshooting how to get items back, give refunds or credits, and ensure a positive customer experience.
The Takeaway
Despite the difficulties involved with fast delivery, home goods companies may be successful if they take the time to develop a strategy.It’s critical to have clear communication with your fulfillment staff in order to guarantee that items arrive intact and on time. Your brand may flourish in the fast-growing home goods market if you use some creativity and planning.